Lynch Family Skatepark

Save the Date: October 6, 4pm - 8pm

Meet the Charles River Conservancy at the Lynch Family Skatepark on October 6 from 4 pm to 8 pm for an evening of community and creativity with skate collectives, artists, and local businesses! Join The Hip Hop Collective for a featured Bridgeside Cypher with local artists and try your hand on the mic! (Rain date October 8.)

Photo by Julia Figueiral (@julia.figueiral), POLISHED Magazine(@bostonpolished)

Advocacy

I90 NPC Comment Deadline Extended

In August 2022, MassDOT published a Notice of Project Change (NPC) to update the status of the Project after recent developments. The NPC also includes a preliminary analysis of environmental effects associated with the Throat Area options. The CRC, along with many mobility and environmental organizations, support moving forward with the modified at-grade option and will continue to push for riverbank and path improvements. Learn more about our advocacy here and join us in submitting public comments by September 13th! For more information on the NPC and submitting comments, click here.

Community Meetings on the Memorial Drive Closure

Currently, Memorial Drive is closed to vehicle traffic from Gerry’s Landing Road to Western Avenue from Saturday at 8 am to Sunday at 7 pm to allow pedestrians, cyclists, and others to enjoy the riverfront without cars. The City of Cambridge and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will be seeking input from Cambridge residents to hear their thoughts on the current closure schedule. CRC supports the closure for both days to provide people safer access and use of the Charles River. Attend one or both of the meetings:

• In-person community meeting on Tuesday, September 13 from 6 pm - 7:30 pm. 
• Virtual community meeting on Wednesday, September 14 from 6 pm - 7:30 pm.

For more information about the community meetings, click here. 

Floating Wetland

Biodiversity Builders

On a sun-filled mid-August day, Biodiversity Builders joined the CRC for a kayak trip out to the floating wetland! Students learned about the types of native plants on the wetland, observed how human development has altered the river from its original state, and made drawings of the existing conditions. You can see one of these drawings in Instagram Action below.

Charles River Showcase at the Starlight Lounge

CCTV's Summer Media Institute

After enjoying a week along the Charles River exploring and making films about their connection to the river and surrounding parks, students from Cambridge Community Television’s Summer Media Institute presented their films for a final showcase at the Starlight Lounge. We love seeing their work and the Charles River on the big screen!

August Recap

Thank you to our hardworking volunteers who helped to maintain the parks and support their ecology in the last stretch of summer!

• Forward Financing removed litter and cut back invasive bittersweet along Memorial Drive.
• Harvard Business School improved Herter Park by weeding, removing litter, and painting park benches.
• Takeda removed litter and cutback vegetation from the pathway between Mass Ave and the BU Boathouse.
• Many community volunteers removed litter and black swallow-wort seed pods and painted benches along Soldiers Field Road.
• Pegasystems supported the Cambridge Parkway through litter removal and bench rehabilitation.
• Philips North America worked in Magazine Beach painting picnic tables and removing litter.
• BU High School Summer Program worked along Memorial Drive removing litter.

Open Volunteer Event

This month, we will be working in Riverbend Park in Cambridge as part of our annual COASTSWEEP Cleanup. COASTSWEEP is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by Ocean Conservancy in Washington, DC. During the month of September, volunteers from all over the world collect marine and waterway debris—trash, fishing line, and any other human-made items—and record what they find. Registration for COASTSWEEP is full, but register now to join us at our October event!

• Saturday, October 29, 10:00 am-12:00 pm - We will be working in Herter Park, Boston, raking the Herter Park Amphitheater. Please email Sasha at [email protected] to register and for more details.

Supporter Spotlight

Jack Goodman

A few years back, Jack Goodman spent his college break working at the CRC, leveraging the support of volunteers and making a day of river swimming possible as part of the City Splash planning team. Although Jack has moved away, working in insurance at Chubb these days, he is still having an impact on the Charles River with his monthly recurring gift to the CRC. He also doubles his gifts by applying for an employer match. We thank Jack for all his help and support over the years!

Interested in becoming a monthly donor? Visit our website to learn more about what your gift can do and sign up to make recurring gifts here. Already a donor? Consider looking at whether your employer offers a matching program.

In the News

Open flame fires banned at state parks as wildfires continue to burn and smolder in Massachusetts (WHDH)

On Tuesday, August 23rd, State officials banned open fire and charcoal grills from DCR properties across Massachusetts due to heightened forest fire risk. Over 30 fires have broken out across the state, including at Magazine Beach Park in Cambridge. Read and watch here.

Photo via WHDH Staff

One idea to reduce coastal flooding in Boston: create an artificial wetland (WBUR)

The Emerald Tutu project, a series of floating wetlands currently off the coast of East Boston, intends to help mitigate sea level rise for the vulnerable Boston neighborhood. The tutu, like the CRC’s floating wetland, have been used to improve water quality and habitat. Although floating wetlands aren't historically designed to completely stop sea level rise, this project is exploring how their design will hold up in violent storms and mitigate rising sea level. UMass Boston’s Paul Kirschen says “It’s all hands on deck” to mitigate climate change.

Photo via Robin Lubbock, WBUR

Car Share to Support the CRC!

Zipcar

There are still a few weeks left to support the Drive to Donate program! From now until September 30th, Zipcar users can book one of the 10 custom-designed Zipcars placed around Boston. For every hour a Zipcar is booked, they will donate $1 to the CRC, with a goal of reaching $20,000. When booking a Zipcar, look for cars with the custom CRC design and car name! The donation from Zipcar will go towards CRC’s efforts in improving people’s access to open green space for a healthier, more sustainable city.



Sign up and book one of the Zipcars at www.zipcar.com/charlesriver.

Instagram Action

Here is one of the several observational drawings Biodiversity Builders did during their kayak trip to the floating wetland. See more of their observational sketches on our Instagram page! Follow us on Instagram for more wetlands appreciation content!